What’s the Story?

When it comes to maintaining an active social media presence, Twitter and Facebook have long been my favorite platforms. Recently, I’ve become an Instagram fan. Follow me and like or comment on a post, and I’ll do my best to reciprocate your kindness.

In addition to providing insights into my stories and extended excerpts, I now have the chance to amass a wealth of evergreen content—a goal I have wanted to accomplish for quite a while.

Over time, I will share special author insights on all my Jane Austen fan fiction stories. In many instances, readers will enjoy special savings offers in order to grab a copy of the story and keep reading. It’s win-win for all.

In Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet makes no secret of the fact that his second eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is by far his favorite child. As Mrs. Bennet states,

“Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humored as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”

For my part, the special bond she shares with her father is what makes Elizabeth who she is. In this story, I wanted to test their deep connection by asking the following question: What if, owing to the most unfortunate of circumstances, Mr. Bennet feels compelled to insist that Elizabeth marry Longbourn’s heir, the odious Mr. William Collins?

In Jane Austen’s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is adamant that her daughter, Anne, and Mr. Darcy were engaged to be married. Indeed, it was said to be an engagement of a peculiar kind. But what of Miss Anne de Bourgh’s sentiments? Such is the question in Impertinent Strangers. As one of Jane Austen’s minor characters who has very little if anything to say, Anne takes center stage in this diverting excerpt.

Finding the perfect Jane Austen quotes to use as the preludes to my stories increases the joy I feel when crafting a new Pride and Prejudice retelling. The following is one of my favorites and one I can never read without chuckling.

“Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then he will be sorry for what he has done.”

A central idea behind writing Bewitched, Body and Soul was the notion that Mrs. Bennet may indeed have been on to something.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Darcy is famous for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Anyone who ever struggled with foot-in-mouth disease knows it’s not a pleasant affliction, especially when it manifests itself in front of that special person one seeks most to impress. With that in mind, I crafted this short story inspired by one of my favorite songs, Leave a Tender Moment Alone, in which Darcy resolves to mend his ways soon after the Meryton assembly.

So, I ask you. Have you ever read and enjoyed one of my stories and found yourself asking what’s the story behind a particular scene, a new character, or even the story premise?

Better yet, are you still on the fence about a particular story and simply want to know more before taking the leap?

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